ASEAN 4TH BATTERY TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE OPENS IN MALAYSIA

The 4th ASEAN Battery Technology Conference (ABTC 2026) opened today, bringing together policymakers, manufacturers, researchers, investors and industry leaders from across ASEAN and beyond to advance regional collaboration and strengthen the foundations of a competitive battery ecosystem.

Hosted by NMB (NanoMalaysia Berhad) at the Mövenpick Hotel & Convention Centre KLIA, Sepang from 19 to 21 August 2026, this year’s conference builds on three previous editions in Bali, Singapore and Phuket. Held under the theme “Industrialising Battery Technologies: Strengthening ASEAN’s Battery Value Chain for Global Competitiveness”, ABTC 2026 shifts the regional conversation towards implementation, from scaling manufacturing and advancing safety and certification to enabling investment, commercialisation and closer integration across ASEAN markets.

Malaysia’s role as host comes as the country strengthens its own pathway from battery research to industrial application. Initiatives such as the NanoMalaysia Energy Storage Technology Initiative (NESTI) and the Hydrogen–EV–Battery Centre (HEBATT) have supported capabilities spanning research, prototyping, testing, validation and pilot-scale manufacturing. More recently, the establishment of GigaFactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (GMSB) and the introduction of Malaysia’s Graphene-Enhanced Lithium-ion Battery Technology have demonstrated the country’s efforts to translate local research and innovation into industrial-scale capabilities.

These developments provide a practical backdrop for ABTC 2026’s wider regional ambition: connecting the different strengths being developed across ASEAN into a more integrated and commercially competitive battery industry.

Malaysia-Indonesia Collaboration Marks Milestone in Regional Battery Development

A key highlight of the opening day was the launch of the Malaysia-Indonesia NMC-graphene lithium-ion pouch cell, marking the next step in regional battery collaboration between NMB (NanoMalaysia Berhad) and the National Battery Research Institute (NBRI), Indonesia. The development builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalised between NMB and NBRI during ABTC 2025, which established a collaborative framework for technology transfer, joint research and innovation, testing and standardisation, as well as education and industrial training.

By combining Indonesia’s capabilities in NMC active material production with Malaysia’s expertise in battery formulation, graphene technology and cell development, the pouch cell initiative provides a tangible example of how complementary ASEAN capabilities can be connected across battery materials, technology development and future commercialisation.

Strategic Partnerships Advance Regional Battery Development

ABTC 2026 also witnessed the exchange of several strategic partnerships and agreements aimed at accelerating battery innovation, commercialisation and industry development across the region. The collaborations announced include:

• GigaFactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (GMSB) and Milan Utama: A Supply Agreement for the prototyping of Compact Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), supporting the development of energy storage solutions for future applications.
• Infien Energy and Ampace: A strategic collaboration to explore opportunities within the evolving battery technology ecosystem.
• Green Tenaga and Go Rental Singapore: A partnership supporting sustainable energy solutions and wider adoption of clean technologies.
• Neoron Energy Network, Aryva Energy, Nano Commerce Sdn Bhd (NCSB) and GigaFactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (GMSB): A strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialisation of battery and energy storage solutions, strengthening manufacturing and strategic partnerships.
• GigaFactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (GMSB) and Axium Industries: A joint initiative to leverage AI and digital technologies to enhance battery manufacturing, operational efficiency and supply chain management, while driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• GigaFactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (GMSB) and Montavista Energy Technologies Corporation: A strategic collaboration to accelerate high-energy-density battery innovation and commercialisation through advanced materials, battery recycling, manufacturing capabilities, equipment facilitation and market development.

Driving Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Across ASEAN

The opening day also examined battery safety, manufacturing scale-up, energy storage, circularity and emerging technologies, drawing perspectives from internationally recognised experts Professor Ying Shirley Meng of the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory and Professor Khalil Amine of Argonne National Laboratory. They were joined by regional leaders from SEDA, MARii, Pertamina, A*STAR and the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP).